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GREY WAGTAIL
Motacilla cinerea
Grey Wagtail © Colin Varndell
 

• Population
  changes

• Productivity
  trends

• Additional
  information
Conservation listings
Europe: no SPEC category (favourable conservation status in Europe, not concentrated in Europe)
UK: amber (25–50% population decline)
Long-term trend
UK waterways: moderate decline
UK population size
38,400–46,200 pairs in 2000 (1988–91 Atlas estimate updated using CBC and WBS trends: BiE04, APEP06)
Status summary
Grey Wagtails occur at highest densities along fast-flowing upland streams. WBS/WBBS shows a fluctuating population size along waterways, with a fall during the late 1970s and early 1980s from an initial high point in 1974, and some increase since the late 1990s. The species was moved from the green to the amber list in 2002, because of a 41% decline recorded between 1975 and 1999, and remains in that category despite substantial population recovery. BBS figures showed an initial ten-year phase of increase, which has now stabilised. The trends for Grey Wagtail are very similar to those for Pied Wagtail, suggesting that similar factors may be affecting these two species. Clutch and brood size of Grey Wagtails rose as the population fell, and are now getting smaller again, raising NRS concern (Leech & Barimore 2008). Nest failure rates have dropped substantially, and there has been linear increase in the number of fledglings per breeding attempt. There has been widespread moderate decrease across Europe since 1980 (PECBMS 2010).
 
WBS UK graph

1975-2008: -26% (confidence interval -42% to -10%)

 
Population changes in detail
 

 Demographic trends
Fledglings per breeding attempt graph
Laying date graph
 
 
More on demographic trends
 
Additional information
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This report should be cited as: Baillie, S.R., Marchant, J.H., Leech, D.I., Renwick, A.R., Joys, A.C., Noble, D.G., Barimore, C., Conway, G.J., Downie, I.S., Risely, K. & Robinson, R.A. (2010). Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status 2010. BTO Research Report No. 565. BTO, Thetford. (http://www.bto.org/birdtrends)

Pages maintained by Iain Downie, Mandy T Andrews and Laura Smith: Last updated 14.10.2010